Graham Onions hangs on to save Test for England

Graham Onions hangs on to save Test for England

Graham Onions hangs on to save Test for England

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Paul Collingwood

Playing it straight: Paul Collingwood is batting to save the Test for England

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Graeme Onions

Playing it straight: Paul Collingwood is batting to save the Test for England

England cannot lose their Test series against South Africa after Graham Onions today relived his Centurion heroics to cling on for yet another nerve-jangling draw.

Newlands was the venue this time as number 11 Onions again blocked out the final over, and the added prize for his second act of backs-to-the-wall defiance this winter was the retention of a 1-0 lead with only one match to play.

It seemed the late twist would not be required while Ian Bell (78) and Paul Collingwood were shutting the hosts out for 57 overs in a sixth-wicket stand of 112.

But Collingwood and Matt Prior fell in successive overs from part-time off-spinner JP Duminy - and after Stuart Broad had gloved one to short-leg off Paul Harris, Bell fenced a catch behind to Morkel to be ninth out with 17 balls left.

It fell to Morkel two to deliver the final six balls at Onions. But he could not shift him.